Identity

Worms

While most people hold worms in a very low regard, they offer much benefit to our world. Read this article which includes everything you ever wanted to know about worms. Then, using King David as a starting point, students will begin to think about how worms and other seemingly non-beneficial species improve the world we live in. $0.00$0.00WORM FACTS The biggest earthworm ever found was discovered in South Africa, measuring a whopping 22 feet long. Over a million worms can live in one acre of land. A worm's head end is called its anterior. Its tail end is its posterior. If they are cut off, worms can grow new posteriors, but not new anteriors. A BAD RAP "Even things which appear to be superfluous in the world...are part of Creation, and God operates through all of them." Bereishit Rabbah 10:7 Lesson Summary:  Using King David as a starting point, students will begin to think about how worms and other seemingly unbeneficial species improve the world we live in. This lesson then goes on to share the many important functions of the worm and how it can teach us about a very important trait: humility. Printable Lesson:  5605lesson.pdf Additional PDFs:  Source Sheet Additional Resources:  The Adventures of Herman the Worm: http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/worms

Glue

In this article, students willlearn how glue creates physical bonds between things. In the lesson, students will consider the question of how one creates a bond withsomething one can’t see. Using glue as a starting point, this lesson explores ideas of bonding with something one can see and bonding to something one cannot see. Students will then take these ideas and create their ownpersonal prayers and rituals to promote Jewish unity in a spiritual and physical sense $0.00$0.00* In November 2005, a man sued a store in Louisville, Kentucky, for a prank that glued him to a toilet seat. * A high school student used Elmer's® glue to build a bridge made from pasta that supported 2,350 pounds. *Some doctors use special super glue instead of stitches to close wounds. A Common Bond "Do not be scornful of any person and do not be disdainful of anything, for there is no person without his or her hour and no thing without its place." Pirkei Avot 4:3 Lesson Summary:  In this lesson, students will consider the question of how one creates a bond with something he or she cannot see. Using glue as a starting point, this lesson explores ideas of bonding with something one can see and bonding to something one cannot see. Students will then take these ideas and create their own personal prayers and rituals to promote Jewish unity in a spiritual and physical sense. Printable Lesson:  8604lesson.pdf Additional PDFs:  Source Sheet

Ricky Ullman: Jewish A"Phil"iation

Ricky Ullman of Phil in the Future talks about being Jewish in Hollywood and his hopes for the future. In the accompanying lesson. your students will engage in a project to demonstrate how, while each is a part of the larger Jewish people - its past, present, and future - every Jewish person brings something unique and personal to the "big picture." $0.00$0.00  Ricky Ullman understands what it's like to adapt to a new place. In his role as Phil Diffy in the Disney Channel's popular sitcom "Phil of the Future," Ricky plays a teenager from the future who is displaced with his family to the present because their time machine broke down while they were on vacation here. Phil adjusts to his new surroundings with the help of his friend Keely and some futuristic gadgets like the Wizrd, skyaks, and the DNA Scrambler. "Know from where you came and where you are going." Pirkei Avot 3:1 Lesson Summary:  In this lesson, students will engage in a project to demonstrate how, while each is a part of the larger Jewish people - its past, present, and future - every Jewish person brings something unique and personal to the "big picture." Printable Lesson:  8605lesson.pdf Additional PDFs:  Source Sheet

Nick Moore: Journey of a Lifetime

In this article, students meet Nick Moore who published a book about his travels with his father across the globe to visit synagogues and Jewish communities. In the accompanying lesson, students will think about how they want to pass their Jewish heritage to future generations and create murals conveying that. $0.00$0.00The frigid air whipped across 14-year-old Nick Moore's face as he raced down Bald Mountain's ski trail alongside his father. Midmountain, Nick spotted his destination: a tiny log cabin nestled among the trees--Utah's "ski shul," operated by Park City's Temple Har Shalom. Inside the rustic cabin, Nick knew he would warm not only his body but also his soul, as he had at each synagogue he's visited as part of a father-and-son adventure around the world. "Let them make a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them." Shemot 25:8 Lesson Summary:  In this lesson, students will learn about how one father passed on his Jewish heritage to his son. Students will then think about aspects of their Jewish heritage that they want to pass on to future generations. Students will create a design for a mural that they would want in their synagogue that would educate others about the importance of Jewish heritage. Printable Lesson:  7602lesson.pdf Additional PDFs:  Source Sheet Additional Resources:  Moore, Nicholas L., A Jewish Journey: One Synagogue at a Time, Blitzprint (May 2004).

Abby Mudd: Standing Up to Anti-Semitism

Queen Esther needed courage to stand up and protect her people.  Following her example, Abby Mudd stood up to her classmates when she encountered antisemitism at her new school and reached out to community organizations to bring about change.  Consider the challenges and risks each faced, and practice speaking out in difficult situations.  $0.00$0.00Abby Mudd walked nervously to the front of the class, her heart beating so fast and loud that it felt as if the other students could hear it pounding in her chest. The Massachusetts tenth-grader feared speaking out, but after seven months of enduring antisemitic slurs, she knew she couldn't stay silent. Abby took a deep breath. "I never understood how difficult it could be to be a minority until I came to school here," Abby said, addressing a group of 11th and 12th graders. "Much have they distressed me since my youth, but they have never conquered me." Psalms 129:2 Lesson Summary:  Students will compare Abby Mudd’s heroism to the model of courage exemplified by Queen Esther. Students will consider what each young woman had to gain and lose by taking a stand. Students will also practice speaking up against acts of racism and antisemitism. Printable Lesson:  6602lesson.pdf Additional PDFs:  Source Sheet Worksheet Hebrew Article Additional Resources:  ADL Confronting Anti-Semitism Project http://www.adl.org/cas/default.asp

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Humble. Pursuits.

Inspire your students with this interview with Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Then work with your students to create an inspirational plaque for their work area (similar to the one described by Justice Ginsburg in the article) that incorporates a piece of Jewish text. $0.00$0.00When former President Bill Clinton asked Ruth Bader Ginsburg why he should appoint her to the Supreme Court, she didn't immediately reply. "I never thought I'd be here," Ginsburg, then a federal judge, shyly admitted, "sitting in front of the president of the United States talking about whether I should be on the Supreme Court." She then explained how she thought she might help end the bitter divisions on the high court over controversial issues. "God guides the humble in justice and teaches the humble God's path." Psalms 25:9 Lesson Summary:  Students will create a definition of the word “humility” by considering the personality traits that humble people possess. Students will create an inspirational plaque for their work area (similar to the one described by Justice Ginsburg in the article) that incorporates a piece of Jewish text. Printable Lesson:  5603lesson.pdf Additional PDFs:  List of BabagaNewz Values

Salute to Israel Parade, 2005

Enjoy this slideshow of the 2005 Salute to Israel Parade! $0.00$0.00

Bar/Bat Mitzvah Party Planner

Students will learn how a little creativity and thought can help emphasize the "mitzvah" part of B'nai Mitzvah celebrations and enhance the overall simhah (joy) of the event. $0.00$0.00  Pick a Date So, you don't get to pick the date, but there's a lot about your bar/bat mitzvah that you can decide. Alex and Sophie do a lot of things together. Right now, the twins are busy planning their b'not mitzvah. They discussed the Torah portion together, picked a mitzvah project, and found a theme to combine them. "Our entire family, even my younger brother and sister, was involved," says Sophie. "Have the wisdom to show restraint." Proverbs 23:4 Lesson Summary:  Students will learn how a little creativity and thought can help emphasize the "mitzvah" part of B'nai Mitzvah celebrations and enhance the overall simhah (joy) of the event. Printable Lesson:  3608lesson.pdf Additional PDFs:  Source Sheet MItzvot and Values List Party Cards

Marissa Jaret Winokur: Don't Just Say It, Spray It!

Marissa Jaret Winokur, who starred in the Broadway production "Hairspray," talks about her successful acting career. Marissa appreciateswhat she has, and lives life by being true to herself. In the accompanying lesson, students will reflect on their personal traits and write self-portrait poems to identify internal sources of personal satisfaction. $0.00$0.00  At Broadway's Neil Simon Theater, the lights go down, the curtain goes up, and the audience sits mesmerized by Marissa Jaret Winokur, a short, plump woman with outrageous attire, enormous hair, and astonishing talent. In her Tony Award-winning lead role as Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray, Marissa belts out catchy lyrics and performs incredible choreographic feats, while showing that a big girl can achieve big dreams. "Don't hold me back," she aptly sings in her opening number, "cause today all my dreams will come true." "I have been happy [with what You gave me], and have made others happy with it." Rashi on Devarim 26:14 Lesson Summary:  Students will reflect on their personal traits and write self-portrait poems to celebrate themselves.   Printable Lesson:  3604lesson.pdf Additional PDFs:  Source Sheet Self Portrait Poems

Matt Jeffers: Standing Proud

Matt Jeffers overcame the challenge of being born with dwarfism to excel on the basketball court. By recognizing his limitations and celebrating his talents, Matt embodies the value of sameah b’h elko, personal satisfaction. In the accompanying  lesson, students will explore the relationship between challenges and strengths and reflect on ways to celebrate who they are. $0.00$0.00  Matt Jeffers felt the stares burning into his back as he raced onto the basketball court the first day of camp. "What is he doing here?" the kids thought as they gaped at 3-foot-10-inch Matt--a ninth-grader the size of your average second-grader. But when game play began, his campmates quickly learned that Matt's height is not as much of a shortcoming as they thought. Playing point guard, he darts between the other players, steals the ball, dribbles it with lightning speed across the court and passes it to a teammate who scores. "Do not look at the container, rather what is inside of it." Pirkei Avot 4:27 Lesson Summary:  In this lesson, students will explore the relationship between challenges and strengths and reflect on ways to celebrate who they are. Printable Lesson:  3602lesson.pdf Additional PDFs:  Source Sheet

Justine Wise Polier

Read about a young woman who hid her Jewish and activist identity while working in the textile industry in the 1920s. $0.00$0.00  As the sun set, thousands of women streamed into the streets. Dressed in stained, sweaty rags, they trudged toward the textile mills for the night shift. Justine Wise Polier, daughter of powerful labor activist Rabbi Stephen Wise, walked with them, disguised as a new immigrant. My feet are killing me from last night's shift, she thought, but it's worth it to experience what these women suffer.

Israel's Messengers to the World

Read about the work of  Shlih.im, Israel’s cultural ambassadors, who enliven Jewish summer camps and bring a taste of Israel to thousands of Jewish campers in the Diaspora. In this lesson, students will recognize the importance of strong ties with Israel, even though they do not live there; graph their connection to Israel; and discuss how feeling close to Israel can be an expression of ingathering of the exiles. $0.00$0.00  "Everywhere I go, I journey toward the Land of Israel." Rabbi Nahman of Bratzlav Lesson Summary:  Students will recognize the importance of strong ties with Israel, even though they do not live there; graph their connection to Israel; and discuss how feeling close to Israel can be an expression of kibbutz galuyot. Printable Lesson:  9507lesson.pdf Additional PDFs:  Source Sheet Sample Survey Sheet Hearts Template

Long-Lost Jews

In “Long-Lost Jews,” students  learn about the Bnei Menashe, a community of people in India descended from the ancient Israelite tribe of Menashe, and the efforts that the world Jewish community has made to help them return to Judaism. In this lesson, students will examine their own notions of what creates a Jewish community by playing a simulation game in which they are “lost, cut off from the rest of the Jewish world, and compelled to establish a Jewish community of their own." $0.00$0.00Your jeep heads perilously down the narrow, winding road through lush, green hills, taking quick hairpin turns that make your stomach drop. In the distance, elephants, tigers, and wild boars roam through the jungles of India. But your destination is much closer to home. You pass through miles of uninhabited land, broken by the occasional cluster of makeshift bamboo homes, until you reach a small building with a Jewish star and an emblem of the State of Israel on the roof. "By you Israel shall bless, saying: May God make you as Ephraim and Menashe." Bereishit 48:20 Lesson Summary:  Students will examine their own notions of what creates a Jewish community by playing a simulation game in which they are "lost" and must establish a Jewish community of their own. Printable Lesson:  6507lesson.pdf Additional PDFs:  Source Sheet Task Sheet Divided Kingdom Map Additional Resources:  Bnei Menashe: http://www.bneimenashe.com Shavai Israel - For Our Lost Brethren: http://www.shavei.org/index.php

Uriah P. Levy

Uriah P. Levy, "an American, a sailor, and a Jew," had non-violent way of teaching his sailors a lesson that changed many lives. $0.00$0.00Naval Commander Uriah P. Levy surveyed the deck of the U.S.S. Vandalia. To his left, a cabin boy scrubbed the floor. Around his neck hung a wooden collar with the word "Thief" boldly scribbled on it. Further along the slippery deck, a mess-hand wore on his back a wooden plaque shaped like a bottle. On it was stenciled, "A Drunkard's Punishment."

The Rabbi in Uniform

Military chaplain Rabbi Mitchell Ackerson helps bring the joy of Shabbat to groups of tired, homesick Marines fighting in Iraq. How can his experiences influence your own practices? What is the difference between rest and renewal, and how can striving for each enhance your Shabbat?The article is also available in Hebrew. $0.00$0.00One Friday evening, with the sun setting behind him, Rabbi Mitchell Ackerson leads an unusual Shabbat service. Most of his congregants have never attended religious services, but something more significant makes this service memorable. Rabbi Ackerson is the chaplain of the 220th Military Police Brigade stationed in Iraq, and his congregation--27 tired, homesick Marines--stands alongside the banks of the Euphrates River, where the ancient city of Babylon once stood "May it be Your will, our God, that there be no distress, grief, or lament on this day of our contentment." Grace After Meals Lesson Summary:  Students will articulate the difference between rest and renewal on Shabbat. Students will identify activities that make Shabbat a day of renewal. Printable Lesson:  4504lesson.pdf Additional PDFs:  Source Sheet Shavat va'yinafash cards Hebrew Article

Leah Larson: Editor-in-Chief

Inspire your students with the story of  Leah Larson, a young woman who published a magazine for Jewish girls when she was fourteen.  In the accompanying lesson, students will explore the values that guide their own lives as a basis for analyzing popular publications geared at their age group. $0.00$0.00  Leah Larson sits at the computer in her bedroom, checking her e-mail for new subscription orders, feedback from readers, and ad requests from companies. Later, she'll consult with her editorial board about article ideas, dream up a cover concept, and review an article about a Jewish girl from New Zealand. But before any of this is done, of course, Leah will have to complete her homework. "People should not say one thing with their mouths and something else with their hearts." Baba Metzia 49a Lesson Summary:  Students will explore the values that guide their own lives as a basis for analyzing popular publications geared at their age group. Printable Lesson:  4602lesson.pdf Additional PDFs:  Source Sheet Additional Resources:  Official website for Yaldah Magazine: http://www.yaldahmagazine.com

Camryn Manheim: A Shining Star

In this interview, actress Camryn Manheim discusses the role that Jewish values have played in developing her self-esteem and helping her realize the difference between inner and outer beauty. Reading the article with your students and doing the accompanying lesson  will help them to `1understand how being good people and doing good deeds makes us all more beautiful. $0.00$0.00  Blinding camera lights flashed as Jewish actress Camryn Manheim stepped out of the white stretch limo and strode down the red carpet into Los Angeles' Shrine Auditorium. After years of being told by acting professors that she needed to lose weight to succeed, the actress was nominated for an Emmy for her role as outspoken lawyer Ellenor Frutt on TV's "The Practice." "Do not look at the container, rather at what is inside of it." Pirkei Avot 4:27 Lesson Summary:  In this lesson, students will write diamond poems to explore the concept of beauty and help them understand that being good people and doing good deeds make us all more beautiful. Printable Lesson:  3504lesson.pdf Additional PDFs:  Source Sheet Diamond Poem Worksheet Printable Photos

Pole and Mouse

Read this story about  a young man who  is forced to accept a position of leadership eventhough he thinks poorly of himself and of his appointed deputy. By the end of the story, the two have become friends and learned about what it means to be a leader. In the accompanying lesson, engage your students  in a drama activity to explore the concept of leadership and consider the leadership potential of those who are not naturally leaders. $0.00$0.00  To look at me, you'd never guess I'm the victim of a stereotype. I'm 14--and six foot one. My friends are jealous, girls have started to hang around, and everyone thinks I'm a spectacular basketball player. Which I'm not. Still, I'm running out of excuses about why I'm too busy to try out for the school team. All year round, it's compete, compete, compete. But the people who run the Jewish camp I go to every summer have a zero-tolerance approach. We're not even allowed to say "Kill him" on the field. Lesson Summary:  Students will engage in a drama activity to explore the concept of leadership and consider the leadership potential of those who are not naturally leaders. Printable Lesson:  Lesson Plan Additional PDFs:  Source Sheet

Haym Solomon

Read about Haym Solomon, a Jewish soldier in the Revolutionary War, gave his all to America. $0.00$0.00  "Thank you, Haym Salomon," gasped the wounded Revolutionary soldier. "You saved my life." While spying for the Sons of Liberty, Salomon had stumbled upon the injured soldier lying in a dark alley. Without hesitating, the Jewish revolutionary patriot carried the wounded man under the cover of darkness and shadows to the Salomon home to treat the gaping musket hole in the soldier's chest.

Hail to the Presidents

These four profiles of Jewish youth leaders will give students insight into the skills and qualities of a successful leader. In the accompanying lesson, students try on different leadership roles while working on a cooperative project to build a house of cards. $0.00$0.00  Making Connections Aliza Vishniavsky stands in front of a circle of teenagers. She warily eyes their smiling faces, but their warm welcome fails to comfort her. As the group sits expectantly the young woman, who is national president of NCSY (National Conference of Synagogue Youth), struggles to dispel the doubts that cast a shadow over her self-confidence. "Will they like my d'var torah?" she worries. Three excellent leaders rose before Israel: Moshe, Aaron, and Miriam." Ta'anit 9a Lesson Summary:  Students try on different leadership roles while working on a cooperative project to build a house of cards. Printable Lesson:  2502lesson.pdf Additional PDFs:  Source Sheet Role Cards Additional Resources:  United Synagogue Youth: http://www.usy.org North American Federation of Temple Youth : http://www.nfty.org Young Judaea : http://www.youngjudaea.org National Conference of Synagogue Youth: http://www.ou.org/ncsy

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